Basil Companion Plants
Herb60 days to maturity
Basil is a tender, warm-season annual herb prized for its aromatic leaves and as a kitchen staple alongside tomatoes. Its strong essential oils are thought to confuse and deter pests like aphids, whiteflies, and thrips, making it one of the most planted companion herbs in the vegetable garden. It bolts quickly in heat, so pinching flower buds keeps the leaves coming all season.
Companion Checker: what grows well with Basil?
Tap any plant to see whether it pairs well with Basil and why. Green means a beneficial companion, red means keep them apart.
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Companion Planting Strategy for Basil
Basil's value as a companion comes from its pungent foliage, which masks the scent of nearby crops and repels several soft-bodied insect pests. It pairs naturally with the warm-season vegetables it shares a bed with, especially tomatoes and peppers, and grows happily beside other Mediterranean herbs that want the same heat and sun.
Best Companion Plants for Basil
These plants grow well alongside Basil — providing pest control, attracting pollinators, or making better use of your garden space.
Basil's strong aroma helps repel aphids, whiteflies, and tomato hornworms while sharing the same warmth and watering needs as tomatoes.
Basil deters aphids and thrips that attack peppers and thrives in the identical full-sun, warm conditions, making it an easy interplant.
Oregano is a fellow Mediterranean herb with matching sun and lean-soil preferences, so the two grow well side by side without competing.
What Not to Plant With Basil
Keep these away from Basil. They compete for resources, attract shared pests, or inhibit each other's growth.
Rue secretes growth-inhibiting compounds and is a long-standing antagonist of basil, stunting it when planted close.
Sage prefers drier, leaner soil than the rich, evenly moist conditions basil wants, so their water needs clash when grown together.
How to Grow Basil
- Botanical name
- Ocimum basilicum
- Family
- Mint (Lamiaceae)
- Sun
- Full sun, 6-8 hours daily
- Water
- Keep soil evenly moist, about 1 inch per week
- Soil
- Rich, well-draining soil, pH 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 10-12 inches apart
- Planting depth
- Sow seed 1/4 inch deep
- Germination
- 5-10 days at 70-85F
- Days to maturity
- 60-75 days from seed; leaves usable earlier
- When to plant
- Sow or transplant 1-2 weeks after last frost once nights stay above 50F
- Harvest
- Pinch leaves from the top regularly and remove flower buds to prolong leaf production
Common Basil Problems
Downy mildew (yellowing leaves with gray-purple fuzz underneath)
Improve airflow, water at the base, avoid wetting foliage, and choose resistant varieties like Prospera or Rutgers Devotion.
Fusarium wilt (sudden wilting, brown streaks in stems)
Remove and destroy infected plants, avoid replanting basil in the same spot, and start with disease-free seed.
Aphids (clusters of small insects on tender new growth)
Blast off with water, introduce ladybugs, or spray insecticidal soap on affected shoots.
Bolting (premature flowering that turns leaves bitter)
Pinch off flower stalks as they form, harvest often, and provide consistent moisture during heat.
Basil Companion Planting FAQ
What are the best companion plants for basil?
Tomatoes and peppers are classic basil companions because they share the same warm, sunny, evenly moist conditions and benefit from basil's pest-repelling aroma. Other Mediterranean herbs like oregano also pair well, and basil flowers attract pollinators when allowed to bloom.
What should you not plant with basil?
Avoid planting basil near rue, which releases growth-inhibiting compounds that can stunt it. Sage is also a poor neighbor because it prefers drier, leaner soil than the rich, consistently moist conditions basil needs.
How much sun does basil need?
Basil grows best in full sun with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct light per day. In very hot climates, a little afternoon shade can reduce stress and slow bolting, but too little light produces leggy, weak plants.
Can you plant basil with tomatoes?
Yes, basil and tomatoes are one of the most popular garden pairings. They enjoy the same warmth, sun, and watering schedule, and basil's aroma is believed to help deter hornworms, aphids, and whiteflies that bother tomatoes.
More herb companions
Plan Your Basil Garden
Use our interactive tools to design the perfect garden with Basil and its companions.